Eau Claire City Council swears in members, names vice president and fills committees

Eau Claire City Council held its annual organizational meeting April 15, administering the oath of office to newly appointed and returning council members, selecting a council vice president and filling seats on advisory committees, subcommittees and external boards.

The meeting opened with a swearing-in ceremony administered by Judge Harless for multiple councilmembers, including Charlie Johnson, Larry Mboga, Joshua Miller and Nate Otto. City Manager Hirsch read written statements submitted by the absent councilmember, and the council president welcomed the new and returning members and thanked staff for their work preparing for the session.

The council then selected a vice president. An initial secret-ballot round produced a tie between Council Member Jessica Schoen and Council Member Andrew Worthman, triggering a revote and further discussion about whether to delay the selection until the next meeting so a full council could vote. After Council Member Schoen withdrew her candidacy, the body appointed Council Member Andrew Worthman as vice president by unanimous consent.

Members spent the remainder of the meeting appointing council representatives to advisory committees, ad hoc committees, quasi-judicial bodies and external boards. Many appointments were made by unanimous consent when the number of applicants matched open seats; several required a show-of-hands vote. Council members frequently offered brief remarks about their interest in particular committees before votes.

Notable procedural moments included the council’s creation of a new Fiscal Stability Committee and its first slate of five council appointees, and a multi-step vote for the City Manager Evaluation Committee that required the council to select the top vote getter first and then resolve the remaining slot by a second vote (one seat was later resolved by a coin flip). Council Member Reid was absent but submitted written interest statements for multiple committees; City Manager Hirsch read those summaries aloud during consideration.

Votes at a glance

- Housing Authority: Council Member Brewster appointed (unanimous consent). - Waterways and Parks Commission: Council Members Nate Otto and Jessica Schoen appointed (unanimous consent). - Sustainability Advisory Committee: Vice President Andrew Worthman appointed (show of hands, unanimous). - Housing Opportunities Commission: Council Member Jessica Schoen appointed (unanimous consent). - Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee (BPAC): Council Member Joshua Miller appointed (show of hands, unanimous). - Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Commission: Council Member Larry Mboga appointed (show of hands, unanimous). - Transit Commission: Council Member Nate Otto appointed (unanimous consent after Council Member Serrano withdrew). - Advisory Committee on Appointments: Council Members Anderson and Brewster appointed (unanimous consent). - Ad hoc Committee on Strategic Planning and Community Engagement: Council Members Brewster and Otto appointed (unanimous consent; vice president Worthman serves by default). - Fiscal Stability Committee (new): Council Members Brewster, Johnson, Miller, Schoen and Serrano appointed (show-of-hands vote; five seats filled). - City Manager Evaluation Committee: Vice President Worthman, Council Member Jessica Schoen and Council Member Serrano named after multi-step vote and tie-breaking procedures (process clarified in meeting; one slot resolved by coin flip as permitted under council procedures). - Redevelopment Authority (RDA): Council Member Jessica Schoen appointed (show of hands; seats filled). - Planning Commission: Council Members Brewster and Reid appointed (unanimous consent; two seats filled). - Library Board: Council Member Reid appointed (unanimous consent). - Chippewa–St. Croix River Commission (regional panel): Council President (by custom; name listed in record) appointed to continue service (unanimous consent). - Eau Claire Confluence Arts Board: Council Member Johnson appointed (unanimous consent). - Downtown Eau Claire Incorporated board: Council Member Brewster appointed (unanimous consent). - Putnam Park Commission: Council Members Nate Otto and Council Member Reid appointed (unanimous consent). - Visit Eau Claire board: Council Members Johnson and Mboga appointed (unanimous consent). - Visit Eau Claire Tourism & Cultural Arts grant committee: Council Members Otto and Mboga appointed (unanimous consent). - City-County Board of Health: Council Member Joshua Miller appointed (unanimous consent). - Landmarks Commission: Council Member Brewster appointed (unanimous consent). - Loan Administration Board: Council Member Mboga appointed (unanimous consent). - Board of Review: Council Members Brewster and Reid appointed as full members and Council Member Johnson named alternate (unanimous consent). - Utility Appeals Board: Council Member Reid appointed (unanimous consent).

Why this matters

Organizational meetings set the council’s internal leadership and determine which councilmembers represent the city on advisory panels and external boards. Those appointments shape how the council oversees planning, housing, fiscal priority-setting, parks and recreation, transit and cultural programs during the coming term. Several councilmembers framed their appointments around priorities such as housing stability, equitable access to mobility and fiscal oversight as the city confronts budgetary choices.

What happened next

The meeting concluded with staff and council reminders about upcoming community events, including a citywide cleanup this weekend and a post-meeting reception for councilmembers and guests. The council adjourned after completing the appointment agenda.